TheCable

The federal government has again extended the deadline for subscribers to link their national identification number (NIN) with their SIM cards to February 9, 2021.

This was announced in a statement signed by Gbenga Adebayo, chairman of Association of Licensed Telecommunication Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), and Damian Udeh, ALTON publicity secretary, on Wednesday.

The federal government had earlier given telco subscribers a two-week timeline to update their SIM registration with a valid NIN.

The deadline was then extended to January 19, 2021, for subscribers with NIN to link it with their SIM cards and February 9, 2021, for those without NIN.

“ALTON can confirm to our members that we have received formal confirmation from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) that President Muhammadu Buhari has graciously approved the extension of the deadline for subscribers with NIN to link it to their SIM registration data from January 19 to February 9,” the statement read.

“We thank the president for giving us more time to deliver on this all-important assignment of creating a credible national identity database for the country.

“To ensure that we utilize the extension period judiciously, we urge all telecom subscribers who have a NIN to link it to their SIM Cards through available channels as soon as possible.”

ALTON also advised subscribers without NIN to visit the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) website for a list of enrolment centres close to them.

The NCC said it has received 47.8 million subscribers have submitted their NINs for linkage with their SIM cards.